IR 64
A high-yielding rice variety grown widely; a long track record but needs current blast-race screening in some zones.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Paddy (Rice)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 115–120 days
- Seed rate
- 12–16 kg per acre for the nursery of a high-yielding variety, against 5–6 kg for a hybrid. About 320 sq m of nursery bed raises seedlings for one acre. This comes from the ICAR-NRRI advisory for transplanted rice, which covers high-yielding varieties in general and does not name IR 64. We found no IR 64 package for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh, so ask your state university for the local sowing date and fertiliser dose
- Expected yield
- 55–60 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Clay / black soil
- Disease resistance
- Resistant to bacterial blight and brown planthopper; blast resistance varies by zone
- Release
- IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), Philippines — released 1985; adopted in India and many other countries soon after
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
IR 64 is a rice variety bred by IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), Philippines, from the cross IR5657-33-2-1 × IR2061-465-1-5-5, released in 1985. Its full pedigree traces back through 19 traditional rice varieties. It combines high yield with good eating and cooking quality, and it spread fast after release to India, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and several other countries, becoming cultivated on more than 10 million hectares within two decades — earning it recognition as a "Mega Variety."
Should you pick this variety?
Pick IR 64 if you want a medium-duration rice (about 115–120 days) that cooks and eats well, and you farm in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh where it is already known. It tolerates bacterial blight and brown planthopper. It is an old variety (released 1985), so blast can be a problem in some zones. MTU 1010 has a similar duration and yield, with a long slender grain that mills like, but it is highly susceptible to bacterial blight. The yield and duration shown for India are approximate, so confirm with your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra before you buy seed.
Sowing & cultivation
- Seed rate12–16 kg per acre for the nursery of a high-yielding variety, against 5–6 kg for a hybrid. About 320 sq m of nursery bed raises seedlings for one acre. This comes from the ICAR-NRRI advisory for transplanted rice, which covers high-yielding varieties in general and does not name IR 64. We found no IR 64 package for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh, so ask your state university for the local sowing date and fertiliser dose
Advantages & considerations
Things to consider
- IR 64 was bred in the Philippines and adopted in India. It is not a release of an Indian institute.
- We could not find India-specific yield, duration or recommended-state figures from a primary source. Treat the yield (55–60 q/ha) and duration (115–120 days) shown here as approximate.
- IR 64 became a worldwide "Mega Variety", grown on more than 10 million hectares within two decades of its release. That is why it is still widely sown, but it is now an old variety and needs a blast check in some zones.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
Check this season's blast race before you sow
IR 64 holds up against bacterial blight and brown planthopper, but its blast resistance is not the same everywhere. Blast races differ from zone to zone and change over the years, so a variety that stays clean in one district can get hit in the next one.
Before you sow a large area, ask your KVK or the nearest rice research station how IR 64 behaved locally in the last two kharif seasons. In the field, watch the nursery and the early tillering stage, when leaf blast shows first as small spindle-shaped spots with grey centres. Nitrogen in one heavy dose and standing water in the nursery both make blast worse, so split the nitrogen and keep the nursery drained.
Can you keep your own planting material?
This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Paddy (Rice) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR 64this page | Medium-duration kharif rice with good eating quality | 115–120 days | 55–60 q/ha | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh |
| MTU 1010 (Cottondora Sannalu) | Short-duration irrigated rice; rabi crop after | 120–125 days | 55–65 q/ha under irrigated conditions | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka |
| Pusa Basmati 1121 | Export-grade extra-long basmati; price over yield | 140–145 days | 35–40 q/ha — basmati trades yield for grain quality | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi |
| Pusa Basmati 1509 | Early basmati when water or time is short | 120–125 days | 40–48 q/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh |
| Sahbhagi Dhan | Rainfed uplands with an unreliable monsoon | 100–110 days | Up to 40 q/ha (rainfed) | Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh |
| Swarna (MTU 7029) | Rainfed lowland in eastern India; steady yield in a poor-water year | 145–150 days | 45–55 q/ha under rainfed lowland | West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Uttar Pradesh |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Paddy (Rice) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Paddy (Rice) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Paddy (Rice) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Paddy (Rice) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Paddy (Rice) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Paddy (Rice) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Paddy (Rice) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Where was IR 64 bred?
At IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) in the Philippines, from the cross IR5657-33-2-1 × IR2061-465-1-5-5, released in 1985 — not an India-institute breeding, though it was adopted into India soon after release.
Why is IR 64 called a "Mega Variety"?
Because it spread so rapidly after release that it was being grown on more than 10 million hectares worldwide within two decades — an unusually broad and fast adoption for a single rice variety.
How far back does IR 64's pedigree go?
Its full pedigree traces back through 19 traditional rice varieties, reflecting decades of accumulated breeding work condensed into a single high-performing line.
Why does IR 64 still need blast-race screening despite its long track record?
Rice blast fungus evolves new races over time, and a variety released in 1985 was bred against the blast races known then. In some zones, today's blast races may not be fully stopped by IR 64's original resistance.
Which countries besides India grow IR 64?
It was also released and widely grown in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and several other countries across Asia and Africa.
Should I grow IR 64 or MTU 1010?
Both take about 120 days. IR 64 tolerates bacterial blight, while MTU 1010 is highly susceptible to it. MTU 1010 has a long slender grain that mills prefer and moderate blast tolerance. If bacterial blight is common in your area, IR 64 is the safer pick. If you sell to a mill that wants slender grain, look at MTU 1010.
Can I save IR 64 seed for next season?
Yes. IR 64 is an open-pollinated variety, not a hybrid, so its seed grows true to type. Save seed only from a healthy, clean plot, dry it well, and buy fresh certified seed every few years so the crop stays pure.
Is IR 64 recommended for Bihar or West Bengal?
The states shown for it are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. We could not find an official India recommendation for other states, so we do not claim one. For the eastern lowlands, Swarna is the variety recommended for that belt. Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra before sowing IR 64 elsewhere.
Does IR 64 resist brown planthopper?
Yes, it is listed as resistant to brown planthopper and to bacterial blight. Resistance is not immunity. Keep walking the crop and parting the hills at the base, because a hopper build-up in a dense, heavily fertilised crop can still hurt you.
Will a rabi crop fit after IR 64?
Usually yes. At 115–120 days IR 64 is a medium-duration rice, well short of Swarna's 145–150 days, so the field comes free in time for wheat, gram or a short vegetable crop. Count from your own transplanting date before you commit to the next crop.
Sourced from: Agro-Advisory Service, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack (June 2024): nursery area and seed rate for varieties and hybrids (general high-yielding varieties, not IR 64). editorial policy.